Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 299

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Successor Doesn’t Matter; I’d Rather Heal. Episode 299

‘He’s going to turn it around on me.’

Jack had lost the will to resist.
It was becoming clear that Lion Asteri already knew everything.
He likely anticipated the very questions Jack wanted to ask.

‘Because of the witch.’

Perhaps that witch, Elvia, had given Lion information about the artifact.
After all, the heirloom Jack had received from Previous Jack carried the essence of the Demon Race within it.

‘Though it turned out to be utterly useless.’

The artifact was broken.
Or perhaps it was never meant for human hands in the first place.
The peculiar essence of the Demon Race remained intact within it, yet it neither radiated outward nor harmed anyone who possessed it.
When Previous Jack—or rather, the old man—had handed over the artifact, he himself had admitted he didn’t know its true purpose.

‘But the reason he gave it to me was…’

Perhaps a faint hope that it might somehow help break Kyle’s curse.

‘For a man who pretended to be so hard-boiled, the old fool had a tender heart.’

Before he could sink deeper into sentiment, Jack shook his head lightly.
In any case, if Kyle’s curse still remained unbroken, Jack would never have let his guard slip in conversation like this.

‘Lion Asteri must have lifted the curse.’

Far too easily.
And the artifact was in no state to be used.
Previous Jack had even left instructions like, “If someone in need appears, pass it on to them.”
Jack had lived long enough to read the room.
Now was the time to hand it over.
So then… he should do so without hesitation.

“How remarkable that you understand my heart so perfectly! In fact, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.”
“Oh? And what might that be?”
“This.”

Jack reached into his robes to retrieve the object.
But then—
Lion’s body tensed ever so slightly, didn’t it?
Jack’s perceptiveness was legendary; he caught that minute reaction instantly.

‘…Hmm?’

Jack raised an eyebrow, his charitable impulse interrupted mid-thought.
It seemed this young master still harbored secrets.
Jack could certainly exploit that if he wished.

‘But I should keep his frail body in good condition.’

After all, he’d need to be around to sacrifice himself for Kyle later.

“Are the others aware of this?”
“Aware of what?”

The moment Lion tried to brush it off, Jack reached into his pocket again as if to produce something.

“No, I know nothing. Well, perhaps I might….”

Mostly hidden, but it was possible that those with sharp eyes had caught a glimpse.

‘This Young Master truly is something.’

He could rely on others, yet he couldn’t manage it—quite the problem indeed.
One cannot change one’s nature, after all.

‘Wait… why am I even worrying about this Young Master?’

Jack felt an inexplicable sense of grievance wash over him.

“As you wish.”

Regardless, it was quite a satisfying haul apart from the concern.
Unlike Kyle, Jack knew exactly where this heirloom had come from.
It was something that the Previous Jack had stolen at the behest of a certain individual called the Hero—not some old relic.
And coincidentally, this Young Master standing before him now…

‘…was deeply connected to the Hero.’

It seemed a chain reaction of sorts was unfolding.
The problem was that this Young Master seemed to have the appetite for it but lacked the physical readiness.
Should he simply hand it over separately later, then? As Jack deliberated on this…

“It seems you have many things you’d like to ask me. Shall we talk over a meal?”
“Pardon?”

There was much he wanted to ask, but he’d made up his mind not to.
He had no intention of stirring up trouble unnecessarily.
This Young Master was troublesome enough as it was, requiring far more effort than he was worth.
And yet…

“I’m hungry.”

Now he was asking for a meal too.

……

Jack let out a hollow laugh at Lion’s shamelessness.
What boldness, acting so confident as if he had some leverage over him.

‘Though I suppose it’s leverage that no longer matters anyway?’

One way or another, Jack and Lion were passengers on the same ship.
Their final destinations might differ somewhat.
But even if they traded barbs and jibes, the circumstances simply didn’t allow for any real sabotage.

‘A strange relationship, indeed.’

Jack condensed the present situation into a brief summary in his mind, then nodded.

“Very well. Help yourself to everything.”
“Ha. I’ll accept your generous hospitality.”

Lion didn’t even bother to deny the idea of taking all that was offered.

* * *

“My word, I’ve heard the Underworld draws all of the world’s exotic delicacies, but this truly is luxurious.”

It was exactly as stated.
The Underworld received ingredients so rare that even the Imperial Court could barely procure them.
Beef marbled so exquisitely it melted on the tongue, giant lobsters that looked to have lived a hundred years — such things were merely the foundation.
And that wasn’t all.

“While we cannot match House Asteri, the chefs stationed here possess considerable skill.”

Whatever crimes had brought them to the Underworld remained unknown, but their mastery of the craft was unquestionable. Combined with Previous Jack’s exacting nature — he’d reject a dish the moment something fell short of perfection —

‘The taste is absolutely masterful.’

The result was food of exceptional quality.
Some might find their spirit crushed by the sheer excellence of the cooking alone.

The chefs bringing the dishes trembled visibly.
Not a single sauce was carelessly applied.
Discipline ran tight here.

It was a table cold and austere.
Yet Tieramatrak seemed to find the atmosphere rather comforting.
In his younger days, living as a dragon, he must have tormented no few elves and dwarves.

‘I’m hardly the type to be intimidated, either.’

There were too many moments in life where one risked losing nerve — why falter over food?
He was simply grateful for the excellent meal.
And besides.

‘I need to build up my stamina.’

There was a reason Lion had insisted on this meal.
Now that he’d obtained Previous Jack’s artifact, he was considering a new application of Story Mode.

‘Until now, I’ve been thrust into Story Mode without warning, caught off guard.’

He’d done little more than endure within Story Mode itself.
This time, he intended to try something different.

‘I’m going to view three of them at once.’

It was madness, plain and simple.
Even one Story Mode could drain him; three simultaneously?
If all three visions concerned death, the outcome wouldn’t be mere exhaustion — he’d be coughing blood.

‘And I might fail.’

It was possible that the system wouldn’t even register simultaneous entry into Story Mode.
Having never attempted such a thing, he could be certain of nothing.
But.

‘If I don’t try now, I never will.’

Whether it succeeded or failed, he would attempt it.
And for that, he’d need to stockpile considerable stamina beforehand.
Lion chewed the beef with almost martial purpose.

‘Curious.’

He’d never seen anyone eat with such genuine appetite in his presence.
Though to be fair, Jack had only started taking an interest in food recently.

‘Kyle always had a poor appetite.’

The curse had reduced him to swallowing liquid meals.
And even in the Imperial Palace, he’d had to worry about poison.

“The food seems to suit your taste, at least. As for the item—how shall I deliver it?”
“If you entrust it to Elvia, I’ll collect it from her.”
“So it’s all right as long as I don’t touch it directly?”
“Something like that.”
“You’re remarkably forthcoming for someone so secretive.”

To those he considered close, he rarely withheld much.
Lion shrugged at Jack’s observation.

“There’s trust between us.”
“Trust, you say?”

Jack had never heard such a word used in quite that way.
And for the Underworld’s master, hearing it felt almost insulting to his pride.
And yet.
Truthfully, it didn’t sit poorly with him.

‘Trust that I won’t interfere.’

Jack’s first priority had always been the Crown Prince, hadn’t it?
And that sharp mind of his would have already grasped what Lion was doing—how it bordered on the work of the Hero.
If that were the case, there’d be no reason to obstruct him.
Quite the opposite; he’d help if anything.

‘This artifact must be for the same reason.’

He asks nothing, questions nothing, and simply moves according to Lion’s intent without hesitation.
Setting that aside, though.

“I’ll return the item once I’m finished using it.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Yes. It’s a precious thing, isn’t it?”
“I couldn’t use it anyway…….”
“For sentimental reasons.”
…….

Lion deliberately avoided looking at Jack’s expression as he stuffed more food into his mouth and chewed.

‘Why wouldn’t I feel the loss of it?’

Even if Previous Jack had left the instruction to give it to whoever needed it.

‘It’s the last medium.’

There were so few possessions through which the living could remember the dead.
And cruelly, memory itself faded with time.
Dragons called human forgetting a blessing, but could those who had lost truly feel it that way?
Besides, Jack had lived a life where he could never afford to look back—not even once.
That much I can be certain of.

‘Because I did the same.’

Before the possession, Baek I-hyeon had only himself to answer for.
But this man before me now—he had to care not just for himself, but for a sickly younger brother too.
He must have lived with nothing but reason, cruelty, and a gaze fixed forward on what came next.
And only now could he afford to look around him.
Now that he had something of his own, now that his people were at peace.

‘And I’m the one taking that away from him.’

Of course, the true owner of that heirloom was Lion’s main character—the Hero.
But.

‘He won’t accept it.’

It was only because Jack had enough wit to let it pass.
Had it been Lion, he wouldn’t have handed it over so easily.
So at the very least, he had to convey his intention.
In fact, offering Jack the chance to ask a question stemmed partly from this reason too.

“It’s a thing that should return to whoever needs it most. That’s all.”

Wary that pity might become a wound, Lion answered plainly and finished his meal.

“Well then, having enjoyed a fine meal, I’ll take my leave once Elvia wakes.”

Lion rose from his seat, saying he knew the way back and would go ahead, and left the restaurant.
Just then.

“You’re a curious person.”
“I hear that often.”
“It’s as if you’ve lived through something like what I have.”

At Jack’s words, Lion turned his head with a smile.

“Though I understand you were unwell, you seem to have grown up without want.”

Jack’s eyes were softer than usual, relaxed.
And yet the direction of his gaze aimed not at Lion, but deeper still—beyond him.
As if seeing through to the essence itself.

“Do you mean you sense kinship?”
“……You could say that.”

In truth, he knew.
The question Jack wanted to ask.
And the emotion he felt now.
It was.

‘Who are you.’

Lion did not avoid Jack’s gaze.
Not long ago, he would have taken that look for an attack.
But somehow, without even knowing it himself, Lion had grown.
Grown enough to say something like this.

“Then as one who shares your path, might I say something.”
“…….”
“Please praise yourself for all your hard work, for the effort you’ve put in.”

With that, Lion rose and left.

“Well, you’re quite the businessman.”

In any proper transaction, one must win over the other party’s heart.
That young master was damnably skilled at it.
I couldn’t dislike him even if I tried.
I’d meant to show him my world, but instead I found myself drawn into the brightness of his.
And in the end, he walked away with several times what he came for.
Not just the artifacts this time.

“……Well, well.”

Previous Jack raked a hand through his hair.
The words kept circling back in his mind—that he’d worked hard.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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